METHODS OF TIN MINING

As mention from previous chapter, Ore or tin mining can be done with various methods depending on the environment and location of the tin.  Perhaps the most popular and efficient methods of tin mining are:

1. Panning
2. Dredger
3. Gravel Pump
4. Open Cast Mine
5. Underground Mining

1. PANNING

 Panning Mining is the oldest method of mining in the world. This method requires the use of trays.  During the process weight the heavier ores or tin will remain in the pan. While the soils and mud will flow together with the water. This method is also used to determine the quality of ore in mining areas.

2. DREDGER

This method had been introduced in Malaysia by the Malayan Tin Dredging Limited in Kinta Valley (Lembah Kinta) in 1913. This method will dredged all the collected soil together with the rocks where the tin ore deposit was embedded. Then it will be place at a high ground. Later the rocks and embedded tin ore with be spray with high pressure of water to broke and loosen the soil and rock (tin ore embedded). The heavier rocks that contain the tin ore then will be channel to a separator where the tin ore minerals were collected.

The advantages of the dredger are it can be operate continuously at the depth of 200 meters below water level. It also can operate about 75, 000 cubic meter of tin ore volume per month.

3. GRAVEL PUMP

 

            This method had been introduced by the Chinese miners and it was the second biggest mining method after Dredger. Historically in 1966 there were around 1000 pumps in Malaysia. In which 400 pumps were found in Perak, and 200 were found in Selangor. Soil containing tin, especially from the edge of the hill or the quarry will be demolished by the high-pressure spray of gravel pumps. An instrument called a "sump" would suck all the broken bits of ground to the box channel. This channel will tilt the box to separate tin ore minerals using gravity separation of care.

 4.  OPEN CAST MINE

At the tin mine, land that consist the tin will be dug and dredged mechanically and broughtto the plant using mechanical methods. Land along the ore will be rinsed with water to allow the heavier tin will remain at the bottom and will be separated with mud and water.
In 1965 there were five of the largest open cast mines in the world located in Kuala Lumpur whichis owned by the Company Sungai Besi Mines Limeted.

5. UNDERGROUND MINING

Underground mining methods require very high expertise and huge capital. Sungai Lembing Mine practices this method because there is high volume of alluvium sediments that containing tin. As all know, the underground mining in the Sungai Lembing have been carried out as early as 1882. And Sungai Lembing underground mine is one of the largest underground mines in the world.

There are 2 tunnels (known as pengkang to the workers) in Sungai Lembing. First is the Myah Tunnel. And another one is Tobeto. The depth of Myah tunnel is 700 meters from the surface of the earth.Mean while the Tobeto Tunnel is 480 meters. The depth between the two tunnels is about 30 meters apart with the total length of the two tunnels is about 322 kilometers.

In general, each tunnel will be constructed manually or by using hydraulic machines and hydraulic water pump. Mean while the usage of explosive `will be use for the area consist of hard rock. Each tunnel will be supported by wooden poles with the thickness of 20cm X 20 cm.